Why Luchanko Needs to Turn a Developmental Corner in 2026-27

With their top draft picks in 2023 and 2025, the Philadelphia Flyers seem to have hit the jackpot. Matvei Michkov slipped to the Flyers at seventh overall in 2023, and despite a down season as a second-year NHLer, already has 46 goals and 114 points in his young career.

And what more needs to be said about the 2025 top pick, Porter Martone. His immediate impact last season has everyone excited about the possibilities.

But it is the highest selection in between those two years, the 13th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, that draws a lot of attention. Jett Luchanko certainly wasn’t the name that was expected to go at the 13th overall pick. And over the years, while he’s shown flashes, his development has been moving slower than hoped.

Luchanko really burst onto the scene for the Flyers. After being drafted, he caught the eye of John Tortorella in training camp and made the team, appearing in four games before being returned to juniors as an 18-year-old. Upon making his NHL debut, Luchanko was the youngest player to ever suit up for the Flyers.

In the 2024-25 season, Luchanko made some solid contributions. In juniors with Guelph, he topped his draft year goal total, scoring 21 goals, and had 56 points in 46 games, improving upon his points-per-game total. He joined the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for their playoff run and had three assists in the final nine regular-season games. In the playoffs, he had six assists in seven games.

But it was last season that really had people talking. Luchanko once again made the Flyers out of camp, but was in and out of the lineup, playing in four games before returning to juniors again. With Guelph, he scored two goals and had 17 points in 11 games before being traded to Brantford. Going from one of the worst teams in the OHL to the best was expected to boost his numbers. Luchanko finished with five goals and 26 points in 27 games with Brantford.

He played in seven games in the World Junior Championships, but only had one assist and limited ice time. In 15 playoff games with Brantford, he scored two goals and had seven points.

Luchanko was back with the Flyers after that for their playoff run, appearing in the final game of the second round against the Carolina Hurricanes. That move showed the Flyers are still invested in his future, but his performance and development have been a conundrum of sorts.

Luchanko has never really found the ideal situation at juniors. Being one of the best players on the worst team doesn’t really help your stock, and moving to a better team and seeing your numbers plateau doesn’t make matters much better.

But at development camp, Luchanko was not able to participate due to injury, after having a core muscle procedure. That may explain his lack of production last season, and why he just didn’t have that pop or stand-out ability that he was able to show in spurts before.

The hope now is that being fully healthy and turning pro will make a difference. Luchanko noted during rookie camp that every player’s development path is different, so he’s not comparing himself to others. But as more time passes, Luchanko’s chances of establishing himself as a top prospect and an impact NHL player become slimmer.

It makes his first full year as a pro that much more important, to continue to grow the offensive side of his game while further showcasing the speed and smarts that appealed to the Flyers from the beginning. And now that Luchanko is among the pros, perhaps being one step away from the NHL will help as well.

Kevin Durso is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN. Follow him on social media @Kevin_Durso.